Natasha Hughes

You've been placed in a position of authority at work. You're in charge. This comes with a higher salary but also a greater capacity to impact people's lives on a daily basis for good or for ill. There's a moral and professional responsibility to get it right - to be a good boss.

Fortunately, something as simple as remembering to say “well done" or to smile can have a positive impact on the culture of your workplace, particularly if you're a middle-order boss such as a manager or team leader.

Whether someone loves coming to work is determined more by their immediate supervisor than anyone or anything else

And if you're a leader at the top of the rung - a board director or executive officer - it can be as straightforward as allowing those in the lower orders permission - and the time - to be human, while setting the example.

Treating people respectfully and talking and listening to them are key to being a good boss.

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“Emotional intelligence is the biggest thing a boss should be working on to motivate people," says James Adonis, a specialist leadership consultant. “Build relationships. Your words and actions influence other people.

“Whether someone loves coming to work is determined more by their immediate supervisor than anyone or anything else. What a leader says, does or thinks, impacts on whether someone has a great day at work or a rotten day."

John King says it's important to get to get to know the individuals who work for you. King chairs several boards including the Australian Tourism Export Council, and until recently, owned a consultancy business. He says communication must be two-way.

“You really need to allow individuals to take responsibility and to bring out their own personal strengths rather than try to slot them into roles," says King. “Talk to the individual about their role within that organisation and help them feel part of achieving (the organisation's) vision.”

Marketing specialist Murray Chenery has long worked by these principles. “You've got to respect the people who work for you and never take them for granted," says Chenery, who has been general manager of several big brands - and had several key staff go with him with his career moves. “Part of a leader's role is to take the barriers out so that people can excel. People want to come to work and do a really good job if they're valued. They'll walk over hot coals for you."

Chenery recommends gaining feedback “that's open and honest" and being “fair and consistently fair" so that staff trust you will react in a consistent way. A bit like parenthood, really.

“Surround yourself with people better than you in their respective disciplines because you can't know everything. Harness that information. Ingest it. Instil it. You can never do it all yourself; you've got to work with people.

“To inspire and motivate is critical."

People are looking for people to lead, Chenery says. “Make a difference. Give people a purpose and clarify that purpose and people will work hard for you.”

But how to develop the empathy, the patience and the other social or 'emotional intelligence' skills to do this and become a good boss?

It takes a bit of work but it can be learned.

James Adonis says: “Become a genuine student of leadership. Read the books, do the courses, find a mentor to inspire you. See yourself as a professional. Become a master of leadership without doing a Masters.

“If it's in your own time or at your own expense, so be it. You've been placed in a position of high salary and power and with that comes responsibility. You have a big effect on the quality of people's lives."

Recommended reading:

The One Minute Manager by Kenneth H Blanchard and Spencer Johnson

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Good to Great by Jim Collins

In your opinion, what makes a great boss?

17 comments

Excellent article, however the recommended reading list does not mention one of the most influential leadership experts - John Maxwell. I have read most of his books on leadership and his leadership principles are based on Biblical teaching which is very relevant in this day and age, especially the way you treat your fellow human.

Commenter

Leader

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

March 18, 2013, 7:42AM

'his leadership principles are based on Biblical teaching which is very relevant in this day and age' - Really? I don't know what day or age you're living in, but unless it is some sort of Amish community I think it's probably best to leave the biblical teaching for those that believe in that sort of hocus pocus.

Commenter

Jeden

Location

Sydney

Date and time

March 19, 2013, 9:14AM

Jeden, guess the world is filled with people like you who think that Biblical teaching is hocus pocus, you may be an atheist but do not mock someone who has the right moral values that should form the cornerstone of anyone in a leadership position. Instead of being ignorant try and read the Bible or any of John Maxwell's book to see the relevance to leadership.

Commenter

Leader

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

March 19, 2013, 12:10PM

The fact that you automatically assume that you have the 'right' moral values because the bible told you so is quite illuminating.

Commenter

alexbeare

Date and time

March 20, 2013, 10:34AM

I had a boss who spoke of self-awareness and good-behaviour but was a A-grade bully. I worked for her for two years because I genuinely believed that I was the problem. While working for her I put on 20 kgs, I nearly lost my marriage and I became a shell of my former-self. At the time I thought it was me, now I know it was the affect that she was having on me. I like to believe that she didn't know the huge impact that she was having on my life (and it wasn't through lack of trying on my part) ... but maybe she just didn't care ...Now I've left and I have a job that I love, a wonderful team and a great boss. People are just "nice" to each other. And not in a touchy-feely way - still professional and assertive when necessary. I know that I am good at my job and that I am "worthy" of being treated like an adult.I learnt a lot from working for my horrible boss and I hope that I never have that impact on my team. My advice to people in this situation ... get a new job! The grass IS greener!

Commenter

Resigned

Location

Sydney, NSW

Date and time

March 18, 2013, 8:37AM

Leadership and team work are all legacies of NAZI social policies.To be a good leader , its best if you are a good liar.

Commenter

Kane

Date and time

March 18, 2013, 9:04AM

Yes, leadership and team work were actually invented in 1939. Previous to that, people never worked together as a group. And the concept of a 'leader' certainly never existed.

Commenter

alexbeare

Date and time

March 18, 2013, 9:57AM

Care to elaborate on that 'Nazi social policies' thing? Do you have some relevent knowledge of the German Reich 1936-1945 that backs up that assertion?

Commenter

Caffetierra Moka

Location

Sector 7-G

Date and time

March 18, 2013, 10:38AM

Lying is a sack-able offence in most companies, so wouldn't share your view.

Also note that in some states it is legal to record in-person conversation that you are a party to (i.e. it is illegal to record conversations you are not involved in). Sometimes it is necessary to record conversations if you are being lied to and/or bullied - then their manager will fire them for you. It shouldn't come to this, but this strategy can work.